Falling in love with my stalker

I was in the car, going back to my house.

I didn’t want to leave Shou-kun alone. He was wounded and lonely. The way he was looking at me, I knew, he wanted me to stay a little longer.

However, my family was so overbearing and unreasonable sometimes that I had to abandon my Shou-kun’s wishes and walk away.

He looked so happy…so delightful while we chatted that I yearned for those moments to last longer. Like, forever.

However, every good thing comes to an end. And so did my meeting with Shou-kun.

Shou-kun has lacked the warmth and caring of a person for a long time. I haven’t known him for a long time but still, I have researched quite a bit about him.

After his parents’ death, while he was living with his aunt, he usually tended to be a quiet kid—to the point where people assumed him to be mute. Although he never disturbed the other people living with him, his silence made that damn uncle creeped out most of the time.

Once Shou-kun reached the age of fifteen, his aunt explicitly told him to move away. It was not because they were having accommodation problems. Rather it was because those two losers didn’t want a ‘creep’ to live beside them any longer.

A fifteen-year-old boy has to shift his residence to the same house where his parents ended their lives. The loneliness, the emptiness he must have suffered in those times, I couldn’t even fathom.

Shou-kun understood why his aunt and uncle threw him away, yet he interpreted it like they were having a baby and needed more space. And since he understood the reason for their wariness, Shou-kun began to change himself.

….more like he began to create a mask on himself, to hide his real self from the public

He began to smile. A lot.

He suddenly became so talkative and sociable that people could no longer avoid or ignore him. He began helping people in their worst and many times, took others’ blame on himself to gain a spot in their good books.

He was trying his best to be liked by people. He didn’t want to be left alone again.

Shou-kun was…lonely.

However, today, I somehow felt when he was complimenting my food or chatting with me after dinner, he was expressing his true self. He wasn’t trying to mask his feelings, rather, express his honest thoughts.

However, given his past, I suspected that to be true. I know I should trust Shou-kun’s words but I couldn’t help thinking,

‘Whether he truly meant that or he just wants to cherish me so I don’t leave him?’

My heart ached at such thoughts. I didn’t want to portray it like that….yet, a part of me suggested otherwise.

“My lady, are you not feeling well?”

I didn’t turn to look at the maid before wiping my eyes and responding,

“…don’t tell anything about this, to my family. ”

I want my tears and pain only to be limited to myself.

Things between Shou-kun and I should remain between us two only.

Even if today’s interaction between us wasn’t entirely honest on his part, I was content that Shou-kun provided me a chance to interfere in his life.

Slowly and surely I would make him fall for me, and provide him all the love he deserves.

******

[Shou’s POV:]

“Huh?!” I looked around the place where I was. It took me a moment or two before I realized that I was in my bedroom.

I looked at the clock instantly and found it was already half past seven.

‘…why?!’ I was frustrated at myself for not only waking up early but sleeping ten minutes later than usual.

I even set an alarm so I could wake up early and meet Takeuchi-san in the morning.

Yet…

‘Ugh…I don’t deserve her kindness.’ I punched the blanket…and ended up hitting my knee.

It hurt a lot, but thanks to that I was fully awake.

Getting out of the comforter, I rushed downstairs and headed toward the dining space.

‘She isn’t here…’ There was breakfast waiting for me on the dining table but not the girl I wanted to see.

Well, considering how it would be suspicious for her to arrive late at school, it was far better that she didn’t wait for me.

…but still, it was a little saddening.

I walked toward the dining table in anticipation of reading the note she usually leaves for me. And this time, the note was a little longer than usual.

[Since Shou-kun had to work until late, I didn’t wake you up in the morning and turned your alarm off. Even if you miss school, don’t worry; I will help you with notes. The rice is still in the cooker and some portions of other dishes are left in the kitchen. Please eat plenty.]

[Ah, and good morning, Shou-kun]

I smile upon reading the last line. I could see the way she scribbled at the top of the note, she forgot to say good morning and tried to adjust it in the beginning.

I took the note and put it inside my pocket. I have been storing all the early morning notes in a box that was kept safe in my cupboard.

I hated to eat food in haste, more so, when it was cooked by my girlfriend—but I didn’t want to be late for homeroom and make a bad impression on Takeuchi-san.

In the past, it didn’t matter much…but now, I want to become someone she can be proud of.

****

Once I was done eating, I walked out of the house.

For some miraculous reason, I still didn’t have Takeuchi-san’s number on my phone. Isn’t it ridiculous?

I wanted to tell her that I would be there in a few minutes, but alas.

The distance between the school and my house was around two kilometers. It takes me a little more than ten minutes at full speed.

I have tried a lot to wake up a little early. But I just couldn’t.

The route between school and my house had several buildings and parks. I was planning to start exercising from tomorrow and also join a gym to build some muscles and increase my strength.

After all, to gain the Takeuchi family’s blessing, I need to first become stronger than I currently am.

“Hmm…?” Suddenly, my eyes caught the figure of a brown-haired girl wearing the same school uniform as me; currently being surrounded by several older boys.

She looked troubled and seemed to be in danger as well.

‘Can’t ignore her…’ Fastening the strap of my bag I launched myself toward the group.

******

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